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Alvarez ejected from Saturday's game

Alvarez ejected from Saturday's game

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Alvarez's ejection 2:00

5/26/12: Henderson Alvarez is ejected for throwing inside to Ian Kinsler after allowing three consecutive home runs to the Rangers

By Gregor Chisholm
/
MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- Blue Jays right-hander Henderson Alvarez was ejected during the sixth inning of Toronto's 8-7 loss in 13 innings on Saturday afternoon against the Rangers for throwing an inside fastball to second baseman Ian Kinsler.

The incident occurred after the Rangers hit three consecutive solo home runs against Alvarez to take a 5-4 lead. Alvarez got ahead of Kinsler, 1-2, before throwing an inside fastball that Kinsler took a step back to avoid.

Home-plate umpire Marty Foster then immediately took a step toward the mound and ejected Alvarez from the game. There was no warning to either team prior to the ejection and an incensed Blue Jays manager John Farrell charged onto the field to protest the decision.

"I was out there arguing the call made, but that's how he interpreted it," Farrell said of Foster's decision. "It was a fastball in off the plate, so I guess, in his mind, you can't pitch in."

That marked the first ejection of Alvarez's brief Major League career. He was charged with five runs (four earned) on nine hits and one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings.

Alvarez was replaced by left-hander Luis Perez, who finished off the at-bat by getting Kinsler to pop out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.

"I was very surprised, because I was just trying to get him out," Alvarez said through interpreter Luis Rivera. "I didn't want [Kinsler] to get extended, so I tried to throw a sinker in, which is my pitch. That's how I get people out. It kind of run a little bit too much, but it wasn't that bad of a pitch to be thrown out."